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OF A KINGS BEHAVIOVR IN INDIFFERENT THINGS.
The Third Booke.

IT is a trew old saying, That a King is as one set on a stage, whose smallest actions
and gestures, all the people gazingly doe behold:1 and therefore although a King
be neuer so praecise in the discharging of his Office, the people, who seeth but
the outward part, will euer iudge of the substance, by the circumstances;2 and
according to the outward appearance, if his behauiour bee light or dissolute, will
conceiue prae-occupied conceits of the Kings inward intention: which although
with time, (the trier of all trewth,) it will euanish, by the euidence of the contrary
effects, yet interimpatituriustus; and praeiudged conceits will, in the meane time,
breed contempt, the mother of rebellion and disorder.3 And besides that, it is
certaine, that all the indifferent actions and behauiour of a man, haue a certaine
holding and dependance, either vpon vertue or vice, according as they are vsed
or ruled:4 for there is not a middes betwixt them, no more then betwixt their
rewards, heauen and hell.

Be carefull then, my Sonne, so to frame all your indifferent actions and out-
ward behauiour, as they may serue for the furtherance and forth-setting of your
inward vertuous disposition.

The whole indifferent actions of a man, I deuide in two sorts: in his behauiour
in things necessary, as food, sleeping, raiment, speaking, writing, and gesture;
and in things not necessary, though conuenient and lawfull, as pastimes or exer-
cises, and vsing of company for recreation.

As to the indifferent things necessary, although that of themselues they can-
not bee wanted, and so in that case are not indifferent; as likewise in-case they
bee not vsed with moderation, declining so to the extremitie, which is vice; yet
the qualitie and forme of vsing them, may smell of vertue or vice, and be great
furtherers to any of them.

To beginne then at the things necessarie; one of the publickest indifferent
actions of a King, and that maniest, especially strangers, will narrowly take heed
to; is his maner of refection at his Table, and his behauiour thereat. Therefore,
as Kings vse oft to eate publickly, it is meete and honourable that ye also doe so,
as well to eschew the opinion that yee loue not to haunt companie, which is one
of the markes of a Tyrant;5 as likewise, that your delight to eate priuatlie, be not
thought to be for private satisfying of your gluttonie; which ye would be ashamed
should bee publicklie seene. Let your Table bee honourably serued; but serue
your appetite with few dishes, as yong Cyrus6 did: which both is holesommest,
and freest from the vice of delicacie, which is a degree of gluttonie.7 And vse
most to eate of reasonablie-grosse, and common-meates; aswell for making your
bodie strong and durable for trauell at all occasions, either in peace or in warre:
as that yee may bee the heartlier receiued by your meane Subiects in their houses,
when their cheare may suffice you: which otherwayes would be imputed to you
for pride and daintinesse, and breed coldnesse and disdaine in them. Let all your
food bee simple, without composition or sauces; which are more like medecines
then meate.8 The vsing of them was counted amongst the ancient Romanes a
filthie vice of delicacie; because they serue onely for pleasing of the taste, and
not for satisfying of the necessitie of nature; abhorring Apicius9 their owne citi-
zen, for his vice of delicacie and monsterous gluttonie. Like as both the Grecians
and Romanes had in detestation the very name of Philoxenus,10 for his filthie wish
of a Crane-craig. And therefore was that sentence vsed amongst them, against
these artificiall false appetites, optimumcondimentumfames.11 But beware with
vsing excesse of meat and drinke; and chiefly, beware of drunkennesse, which is
a beastlie vice, namely in a King: but specially beware with it, because it is one
of those vices that increaseth with aage. In the forme of your meate-eating, bee
neither vnciuill, like a grosse Cynicke; nor affectatlie mignarde, like a daintie
dame; but eate in a manlie, round, and honest fashion.12 It is no wayes comely to
dispatch affaires, or to be pensiue at meate: but keepe then an open and cheere-
full countenance, causing to reade pleasant histories vnto you, that profite may
be mixed with pleasure: and when ye are not disposed, entertaine pleasant,
quicke, but honest discourses.

And because meat prouoketh sleeping, be also moderate in your sleepe;13 for
it goeth much by use: and remember that if your whole life were deuided in four
parts, three of them would be found to be consumed on meat, drinke, sleepe, and
vnnecessarie occupations.

But albeit ordinarie times would commonly bee kept in meate and sleepe, yet
vse your selfe some-times so, that any time in the foure and twentie houres may
bee alike to you for any of them; that thereby your diet may be accommodate
to your affaires, and not your affaires to your diet:14 not therefore vsing your selfe
to ouer great softnesse and delicacie in your sleepe, more then in your meate;
and specially in-case yee haue adoe with the warres.

Let not your Chalmer be throng and common in the time of your rest, aswell
for comelinesse as for eschewing of carrying reports out of the same. Let them
that haue the credite to serue in your Chalmer, be trustie and secret; for a King
will haue need to vse secrecie in may things :15 but yet behaue your selfe so in your
greatest secrets, as yee neede not bee ashamed, suppose they were all proclaimed
at the mercate crosse:16 But specially see that those of your Chalmer be of a
sound fame, and without blemish.

Take no heede to any of your dreames, for all prophecies, visions, and prophet-
icke dreames are accomplished and ceased in Christ: And therefore take no
heede to freets either in dreames, or any other things; for that errour proceedeth
of ignorance, and is vnworthy of a Christian, who should be assured, Omniaessepurapuris,17 as Paul sayth; all dayes and meates being alike to Christians.18

Next followeth to speake of raiment, the on-putting whereof is the ordinarie
action that followeth next to sleepe.19 Be also moderate in your raiment, neither
ouer superfluous, like a deboshed waster; nor yet ouer base, like a miserable
wretch; not artificially trimmed and decked, like a Courtizane, nor yet ouer
sluggishly clothed, like a countrey clowne, not ouer lightly like a Candie souldier
or a vaine young Courtier; nor yet ouer grauely, like a Minister: but in your
garments be proper, cleanely, comely and honest, wearing your clothes in a care-
lesse, yet comely forme: keeping in them a middle forme, interTogatos & Palu-
datos,20 betwixt the grauitie of the one and lightnesse of the other: thereby to
signifie, that by your calling yee are mixed of both the professions; Togatus, as
a Iudge making and pronouncing the Law; 21Paludatus, by the power of the
sword: as your office is likewise mixed, betwixt the Ecclesiasticall and ciuill
estate: For a King is not merèlaicus, as both the Papists and Anabaptists would
haue him, to the which error also the Puritanes incline ouer farre. But to returne
to the purpose of garments, they ought to be vsed according to their first institu-
tion by God, which was for three causes: first to hide our nakednesse and shame;
next and consequently, to make vs more comely, and thirdly, to preserue vs from
the iniuries of heate and colde. If to hide our nakednesse and shamefull parts,
then these naturall parts ordained to be hid, should not be represented by any
vndecent formes in the cloathes: and if they should helpe our comelinesse, they
should not then by their painted preened fashion, serue for baites to filthie
lecherie, as false haire and fairding does amongst vnchast women: and if they
should preserue vs from the iniuries of heat and colde, men should not, like sense-
lesse stones, contemne God, in lightlying the seasons, glorying to conquere honour
on heate and colde. And although it be praise-worthy and necessarie in a Prince,
to be patiensalgoris & aestus, when he shall haue adoe with warres vpon the fields;
yet I thinke it meeter that ye goe both cloathed and armed, then naked to the
battell, except you would make you light for away-running: and yet for cowards,
metus addit alas. And shortly, in your cloathes keepe a proportion, aswell with
the seasons of the yeere, as of your aage: in the fashions of them being carelesse,
vsing them according to the common forme of the time, some-times richlier,
some-times meanlier cloathed, as occasion serueth, without keeping any precise
rule therein: 22 For if your mind be found occupied vpon them, it wil be thought
idle otherwaies, and ye shall bee accounted in the number of one of these comptiiuuenes; 23 which wil make your spirit and iudgment to be lesse thought of. But
specially eschew to be effeminate in your cloathes, in perfuming, preening, or such
like: and faile neuer in time of warres to bee galliardest and brauest, both in
cloathes and countenance. And make not a foole of yourselfe in disguising or
wearing long haire or nailes, which are but excrements, of nature, and bewray
such misusers of them, to bee either of a vindictiue, or a vaine light naturall.
Especially, make no vowes in such vaine and outward things, as concerne either
meate or cloathes.

Let your selfe and all your Court weare no ordinarie armour with your cloathes,
but such as is knightly and honourable; I meane rapier-swordes, and daggers:
For tuilyesome weapons in the Court, betokens confusion in the countrey. And
therefore bannish not onely from your Court, all traiterous offensiue weapons,
forbidden by the Lawes, as guns and such like (whereof I spake alreadie) but also
all traiterous defensiue armes, as secrets, plate-sleeues, and such like vnseene
armour: For, besides that the wearers thereof, may be presupposed to haue a
secret euill intention, they want both the vses that defensiue armour is ordained
for; which is, to be able to holde out violence, and by their outward glaunsing
in their enemies eyes, to strike a terrour in their hearts: Where by the contrary,
they can serue for neither, being not onely vnable to resist, but dangerous for
shots, and gluing no outward showe against the enemie; beeing onely ordained,
for betraying vnder trust, whereof honest men should be ashamed to beare the
outward badge, not resembling the thing they are not. And for answere against
these arguments, I know none but the olde Scots fashion; which if it be wrong,
is no more to be allowed for ancientnesse, then the olde Masse is, which also our
forefathers vsed.

The next thing that yee haue to take heed to, is your speaking and language;
whereunto I ioyne your gesture, since action is one of the chiefest qualities, that
is required in an oratour: 24 for as the tongue speaketh to the eares, so doeth the
gesture speake to the eyes of the auditour.25 In both your speaking and your
gesture, vse a nturall and plaine forme, not fairded with artifice: 26 for (as the
French-men say) Rien contre-faict fin: but eschew all affectate formes in both.

In your language be plaine, honest, naturall, comely, cleane, short, and senten-
tious, eschewing both the extremities, aswell in not vsing any rusticall corrupt
leide, as booke-language, and pen and inke-horne termes: 27 and least of all mi-
gnard and effoeminate tearmes. But let the greatest part of your eloquence consist
in a naturall, cleare, and sensible forme of the deliuerie of your minde, builded
euer vpon certaine and good grounds; 28 tempering it with grauitie, quickenesse,
or merinesse, according to the subiect, and occasion of the time; not taunting in
Theologie, nor alleadging and prophaning the Scripture in drinking purposes, as
ouer many doe.

Vse also the like forme in your gesture; neither looking sillily, like a stupide
pedant; 29 nor vnsetledly, with an vncouth morgue, like a new-comeouer Cavalier:
but let your behauiour be naturall, graue, and according to the fashion of the
countrey.30 Be not ouer-sparing in your courtesies, for that will be imputed to
inciuilitie and arrogancie: 31 nor yet ouer prodigall in iowking or nodding at euery
step: for that forme of being popular, becommeth better aspiring Absalons, then
lawfull Kings: 32 framing euer your gesture according to your present actions: 33
looking grauely and with a maiestie when yee sit in iudgement, or giue audience
to Embassadours, homely, when ye are in priuate with your owne seruants;
merily, when ye are at any pastime or merrie discourse; and let your countenance
smell of courage and magnanimitie when ye are at the warres. And remember (I
say ouer againe) to be plaine and sensible in your language: 34 for besides that
it is the tongues office, to be the messenger of the mind, it may be thought a point
of imbecillitie of spirit in a King, to speake obscurely, much more vntrewly; as
if he stood in awe of any in vttering his thoughts.35

Remember also, to put a difference betwixt your forme of language in reason-
ing, and your pronouncing of sentences, or declaratour of your wil in iudgement,
or any other waies in the points of your office 36 For in the former case, yee must
reason pleasantly and patiently, not like a king, but like a priuate man and a
scholer; otherwaies, your impatience of contradiction will be interpreted to be
for lacke of reason on your part. Where in the points of your office, ye should
ripely aduise indeede, before yee giue foorth your sentence: but fra it be giuen
foorth, the suffering of any contradiction diminisheth the maiestie of your au-
thoritie, and maketh the processes endelsse37. The like forme would also bee ob-
serued by all your inferiour Iudges and Magistrates.38

Now as to your writing, which is nothing else, but a forme of en-registrate
speech; vse a plaine, short, but stately stile, both in your Proclamations and
missiues, especially to forraine Princes. And if your engine spur you to write
any workes, either in verse or in prose, I cannot but allow you to practise it:
but take no longsome workes in hand, for distracting you from your calling.

Flatter not your selfe in your labours, but before they bee set foorth, let them
first bee priuily censured by some of the best skilled men in that craft, that in
these workes yee meddle with.39 And because your writes will remaine as true
pictures of your minde, to all posterities; let them bee free of all vncomelinesse
and vn-honestie: and according to Horace his counsell
- Nonumquampremanturinannum.40
I meane both your verse and your prose; letting first that furie and heate,
wherewith they were written, coole at leasure; and then as an vncouth iudge.
and censour, reuising them ouer againe, before they bee published,
- quianescitvoxmissareuerti.41

If yee would write worthily, choose subiects worthie of you, that bee not full
of vanitie, but of vertue; eschewing obscuritie, and delighting euer to bee plaine
and sensible. And if yee write in verse, remember that it is not the principal
part of a Poeme to rime right, and flowe well with many pretie wordes: but the
chiefe commendation of a Poeme is, that when the verse shall bee shaken sundrie
in prose, it shall bee found so rich in quicke inuentions, and poeticke flowers, and
in faire and pertinent comparisons; as it shall retaine the lustre of a Poeme,
although in prose.42 And I would also aduise you to write in your owne language:
for there is nothing left to be saide in Greeke and Latine alreadie; and ynew of
poore schollers would match you in these languages; and besides that, it best
becommeth a King to purifie and make famous his owne tongue; wherein he may
goe before all his subjects; as it setteth him well to doe in all honest and lawfull
things.

And amongst all vnnecessarie things that are lawfull and expedient, I thinke
exercises of the bodie most commendable to be vsed by a young Prince, in such
honest games or pastimes, as may further abilitie and maintaine health: 43 For
albeit I graunt it to be most requisite for a King to exercise his engine, which
surely with idlenesse will ruste and become blunt; yet certainely bodily exercises
and games are very commendable;44 as well for bannishing of idlenesse (the
mother of all vice) as for making his bodie able and durable for trauell, which is
very necessarie for a King.45 But from this count I debarre all rough and violent
exercises, as the footeball; meeter for laming, then making able the vsers thereof:46
as likewise such tumbling trickes as only serue for Comoedians and Balladines, to
win their bread with. But the exercises that I would haue you to vse (although
but moderately, not making a craft of them) are running, leaping, wrastling,,
fencing, dancing, and playing at the caitch or tennise, archerie, palle maille, and
such like other faire and pleasant field-games.47 And the honourablest and most
commendable games that yee can vse, are on horsebacke:48 for it becommeth a
Prince best of any man, to be a faire and good horse-man.49 Vse therefore to ride
and danton great and couragious horses; that I may say of you, as Philip said
of great Alexander his sonne, Μακεδονίαοὐσεχωρεῖ.50 And specially vse such games on horse-backe, as may teach you to handle your armes thereon; such as
the tilt, the ring, and low-riding for handling of your sword.

I cannot omit heere the hunting, namely with running hounds; which is the
most honourable and noblest sorte thereof: for it is a theeuish forme of hunting
to shoote with gunnes and bowes; and greyhound hunting is not so martiall a
game: But because I would not be thought a partiall praiser of this sport, I
remit you to Xenophon,51 an olde and famous writer, who had no minde of flatter-
ing you or me in this purpose: and who also setteth downe a faire paterne, for
the education of a yong king, vnder the supposed name of Cyrus.52

As for hawking I condemne it not, but I must praise it more sparingly, because
it neither resembleth the warres so neere as hunting doeth, in making a man
hardie, and skilfully ridden in all grounds, and is more vncertaine and subiect to
mischances; and (which is worst of all) is therethrough an extreme stirrer vp of
passions: But in vsing either of these games, obserue that moderation, that ye
slip not therewith the houres appointed for your affaires, which ye ought euer
precisely to keepe;53 remembring that these games are but ordained for you, in
enabling you for your office, for the which ye are ordained.

And as for sitting house-pastimes, wherewith men by driuing time, spurre a
free and fast ynough running horse (as the prouerbe is) although they are not
profitable for the exercise either of minde or body,54 yet can I not vtterly condemne
them; since they may at times supply the roome, which being emptie, would be
patent to pernicious idlenesse, quianihilpotestessevacuum.555 I will not there-
fore agree with the curiositie of some learned men in our aage, in forbidding cardes,
dice, and other such like games of hazard; although otherwayes surely I reuerence
them as notable and godly men: For they are deceiued therein, in founding their
argument vpon a mistaken ground, which is, that the playing at such games, is
a kind of casting of lot, and therefore vnlawfull; wherein they deceiue themselues:
For the casting of lot was vsed for triall of the trewth in any obscure thing, that
otherwayes could not be gotten cleared; and therefore was a sort of prophecie:
where by the contrary, no man goeth to any of these playes, to cleare any obscure
trewth, but onely to gage so much of his owne money, as hee pleaseth, vpon the
hazard of the running of the cardes or dice, aswell as he would doe vpon the
speede of a horse or a dog, or any such like gaigeour: And so, if they be vnlawfull,
all gaigeours vpon vncertainties must likewayes be condemned: Not that thereby
I take the defence of vaine carders and dicers, that waste their moyen, and their
time (whereof fewe consider the pretiousnesse) vpon prodigall and continuall
playing:56 no, I would rather allow it to be discharged, where such corruption can-
not be eschewed. But only I cannot condemne you at some times, when ye haue
no other thing adoe (as a good King will be seldome) and are wearie of reading,
or euill disposed in your person, and when it is foule and stormie weather; then,
I say, may ye lawfully play at the cardes or tables: For as to dicing, I thinke it
becommeth best deboshed souldiers to play at, on the head of their drums, being
onely ruled by hazard, and subiect to knauish cogging. And as for the chesse, I
thinke it ouer fond, because it is ouer-wise and Philosophicke a folly. For where
all such light playes, are ordained to free mens heads for a time, from the fashious
thoughts on their affaires; it by the contrarie filleth and troubleth mens heads,
with as many fashious toyes of the play, as before it was filled with thoughts on
his affaires.

But in your playing, I would haue you to keepe three rules: first, or ye play,
consider yee doe it onely for your recreation, and resolue to hazard the losse of
all that ye play; and next, for that cause play no more then yee care to cast
among Pages: and last, play alwaies faire play precisely, that ye come not in vse
of tricking and lying in ieast: otherwise, if yee cannot keepe these rules, my coun-
sell is that yee allutterly abstaine from these playes: For neither a madde passion
for losse, nor falshood vsed for desire of gaine, can be called a play.

Now, it is not onely lawfull, but necessarie, that yee haue companie meete for
euery thing yee take on hand, as well in your games and exercises, as in your
graue and earnest affaires: But learne to distinguish time according to the oc-
casion, choosing your companie accordingly.57 Conferre not with hunters at your
counsell, nor in your counsell affaires: nor dispatch not affaires at hunting or
other games. And haue the like respect to the seasons of your aage, vsing your
sortes of recreation and companie therefore, agreeing thereunto: For it becom-
meth best, as kindliest, euery aage to smell of their owne qualitie, insolence and
vnlawful things beeing alwaies eschewed:58 and not that a colt should draw the
plough, and an olde horse run away with the harrowes. But take heede specially,
that your companie for recreation, be chosen of honest persons, not defamed or
vicious, mixing filthie talke with merrinesse,
Corrumpuntbonosmorescolloquiapraua.
And chiefly abstaine from haunting before your mariage, the idle companie of
dames, which are nothing else, but irritamentalibidinis. Bee warre likewaies to
abuse your selfe, in making your sporters your counsellers: and delight not to
keepe ordinarily in your companie, Comoedians or Balladines:59 for the Tyrans
delighted most in them, glorying to bee both authors and actors of Comoedies and
Tragedies themselues: Whereupon the answere that the poet Philoxenus dis-
dainfully gaue to the Tyran of Syracuse there-anent, is now come in a prouerbe,
reducmeinlatomias.60 And all the ruse that Nero made of himselfe when he died,
was Qualisartifexpereo?61 meaning of his skill in menstrally, and playing of
Tragoedies; as indeede his whole life and death, was all but one Tragoedie.

Delight not also to bee in your owne person a player vpon instruments;
especially on such as commonly men winne their liuing with: nor yet to be fine
of any mechanicke craft: Leur esprit s'en fuit au bout des doigts, saith Du Bartas: 62
whose workes, as they are all most worthie to bee read by any Prince, or other
spare not some-times by merie company, to be free from importunitie; for ye
should be euer mooued with reason, which is the onely qualitie whereby men
differ from beasts; and not with importunitie: 63 For the which cause (as also for
augmenting your Maiestie) ye shall not be so facile of accesse-giuing at all times,
as I haue beene; and yet not altogether retired 64 or locked vp,65 like the Kings of
Persia; appointing also certaine houres for publicke audience.66

And since my trust is, that God hath ordained you for moe Kingdomes then
this (as I haue oft alreadie said) preasse by the outward behauiour as well of your
owne person, as of your court, in all indifferent things, to allure piece and piece,
the rest of your kingdomes, to follow the fashions of that kingdome of yours, that
yee finde most ciuill, easiest to be ruled, and most obedient to the Lawes: for
these outward and indifferent things will serue greatly for allurements to the
people, to embrace and follow vertue. But beware of thrawing or constraining
them thereto; letting it bee brought on with time, and at leisure; specially by
so mixing through alliance and daily conuersation, the inhabitants of euery
kingdom with other, as may with time make them to grow and welde all in one:
Which may easily be done betwixt these two nations, being both but one Ile of
Britaine, and alreadie ioyned in vnitie of Religion and language. So that euen
as in the times of our ancestours, the long warres and many bloodie battels be-
twixt these two countreys, bred a naturall and hereditarie hatred in euery of
them, against the other: the vniting and welding of them hereafter in one, by
all sort of friendship, commerce, and alliance, will by the contrary produce and
maintaine a naturall and inseparable vnitie of loue amongst them. As we haue
already (praise be to God) a great experience of the good beginning hereof, and
of the quenching of the olde hate in the hearts of both the people; procured by
the meanes of this long and happy amitie, betweene the Queene my dearest
sister and me; which during the whole time of both our Reignes, hath euer beene
inuiolably obserued.

And for conclusion of this my whole Treatise, remember my Sonne, by your
trew and constant depending vpon God, to looke for a blessing to all your actions
in your office: by the outward vsing thereof, to testifie the inward vprightnesse
of your heart; and by your behauiour in all indifferent things, to set foorth the
viue image of your vertuous disposition; and in respect of the greatnesse and
weight of your burthen, to be patient in hearing, keeping your heart free from
praeoccupation, ripe in concluding, and constant in your resolution: 67 For better
it is to bide at your resolution, although there were some defect in it, then by
daily changing, to effectuate nothing: 68 taking the paterne thereof from the mi-
crocosme of your owne body; wherein ye haue two eyes, signifying great foresight
and prouidence, with a narrow looking in all things; and also two eares, signify-
ing patient hearing, and that of both the parties: but ye haue but one tongue,
for pronouncing a plaine, sensible, and vniforme sentence; and but one head, and
one heart, for keeping a constant & vniforme resolution, according to your appre-
hension: hauing two hands and two feete, with many fingers and toes for quicke
execution, in employing all instruments meet for effectuating your deliberations.

But forget not to digest euer your passion, before ye determine vpon any-
thing, since Irafurorbreuisest:69 vttering onely your anger according to the
Apostles rule, Irascimini, sednepeccetis: 70 taking pleasure, not only to reward,
but to aduance the good, which is a chiefe point of a Kings glory (but make
none ouer-great, but according as the power of the countrey may beare) and
punishing the euill; but euery man according to his owne offence: 71 not punish-
ing nor blaming the father for the sonne, nor the brother for the brother; 72 much
lesse generally to hate a whole race for the fault of one: for noxacaputsequitur.73

And aboue all, let the measure of your loue to euery one, be according to the
measure of his vertue; letting your fauour to be no longer tyed to any, then the
continuance of his vertuous disposition shall deserue: not admitting the excuse
vpon a iust reuenge, to procure ouersight to an iniurie: For the first iniurie is
committed against the partie; but the parties reuenging thereof at his owne hand,
is a wrong committed against you, in vsurping your office, whom-to onely the sword
belongeth, for reuenging of all the iniuries committed against any of your people.

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